Day 18: Stewart, BC to Salmon Glacier to Tyhee Lake Provincial Park

The alarm went off at 7 am for an early adventure before breaking down camp. We were headed up to the Salmon Glacier, about 25 miles up a narrow dirt road outside of Hyder, Alaska, just down the road from Stewart. This road was originally made by gold and copper miners, and I wouldn’t recommend taking just any car up to the glacier. There is still active mining going on, and some big, scary trucks on the road, and some bumps, and if you are scared of heights or of driving on a road which, in places, drops off about 1,000 feet from the tiny shoulder, maybe you shouldn‘t make the trip. We found this vehicle at the top, which is well suited for the road. The owners were not willing to trade their rig for Mark and Adam’s motorcycles. Understandable, as this rig starts at a cool $660,000.

The glacier views were phenomenal--this is a MUST DO side trip if you ever have the pleasure of passing through Stewart, BC.

After enjoying the phenomenal views, we headed down the road to break down camp and head back on to the Cassair Highway. At the border crossing, I heard a loud pop and got a shot of steam around my legs--my radiator had failed! Oh no! My beloved Triumph! Fortunately, I travel with a team of very competent motorcycle mechanics, and they were able to patch things up. Here they are at work.

Disaster was averted. But, our get-home plan had changed a bit. We would continue our planned trip, but drop my motorcycle off in Kennewick, Washington, for repairs. This will mean that I will have to ride on the back of Mark’s bike for about 4 ½ hours home to Boise at the end of the trip. The remainder of the day went well, with me riding in front, watching my bike’s temperature carefully. The rest of the Cassair was gorgeous--it smelled like cedar and wildflowers as we rode through the forest.

We ended up camping at the Tyhee Lake Provincial Park for the night. Distance: 458 kilometers, including a beautiful trip to the Salmon Glacier, and a little time-out for things mechanical